Forest Holidays supports The National Forest

Friday, 26th May 2017

The National Forest Company was delighted to receive a cheque for £17,190, presented as a charitable donation by Moira-based Forest Holidays at a recent event to mark the first anniversary of the two companies working together.

The impressive amount has been raised in support of The National Forest through donations made by Forest Holidays’ customers when booking short breaks and holidays in the company’s luxury log cabins at nine locations throughout the UK.

John Everitt, Chief Executive for the National Forest Company, said: “This is a very generous sum and we are grateful to our partners Forest Holidays and their customers who have donated to help create and develop this forest for the nation, here in the Midlands. The National Forest is the leading national exemplar showing how trees can transform lives, the economy and the local environment, and our partnership with Forest Holidays is a great example of how responsible businesses that value a sense of place can give back to the Forest.”

Bruce McKendrick, Chief Executive of Forest Holidays, said: “Our purpose is to create positive experiences in Britain’s amazing forests; connecting people, nature and local communities, so we are thrilled to partner with the National Forest Company and enable our guests across all of our nine locations across the UK to support the sustainable projects undertaken in The National Forest.”

Before the cheque presentation, staff from both companies took time out to walk the 3.5 km loop between Moira, where both companies are based, and Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre.

The route took them along the Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail, originally the lifeblood of the mining industry rail network, and Newfields Trail, created last year to give local people a safe off-road route to the cycle centre at Hicks Lodge. This former opencast mine is now a thriving visitor centre with cycle hire and nine miles of safe off-road trails with lakes and woodland, providing wonderful habitats for a range of wildlife including skylark, short eared owl, and wildfowl.

Businesses interested in developing links with The National Forest can contact David Bourque, NFC Director of Development, on 01283 554232 or email dbourque@nationalforest.org